Description and History of Site:-
Site cleared with exception of listed structures. Development in progress (2018) as mixed commercial & residential. New railway station opened June 2016. At one time, Kirkstall Forge was thought to have developed from medieval ironworking associated with Kirkstall Abbey. Currently (2019) this is thought unlikely since the documentary evidence is ambiguous and no evidence of the site's occupation before the C16 has come to light.

Developed as a forge from 1779 with remains of water powered belly helve hammer preserved. Site currently cleared though some early structures are preserved. In the 19th century, as well as general iron forging, the business began to develop into the production of vehicle axles. A visit to the works was made by the Iron and Steel Institute in 1876 who reported:

"These works were established by the family of the present proprietors in 1779, and give employment, when in full work, to about 1,000 hands. The estate consists of over 100 acres (of which upwards of 14 acres are covered by the various works), and is connected by a siding with the Leeds and Bradford Railway. The best quality of Yorkshire iron is here manufactured into railway axles and tyres, cranked axles, bars, &c.; there are also large shops for making wheels and axles, capable of producing about 150 sets a week. In the engineering shops are manufactured steam hammers, on Naylor's pattern, up to 50 tons, cranes, turntables, &c. Considerable interest was evinced in a tank engine for conducting the internal traffic of works; this useful combination engine carries a swing crane worked by steam, capable of lifting three tons, and conveying the load to any part of the works. In the erecting shop there was in progress a large hydraulic press on the Haswell system, as described in the paper read on the previous day, calculated to exert a pressure of 1,250 tons. A water-wheel was shown that had worked the old helves for more than 200 years; and the members inspected closely the new machine for straightening and planishing round bars for shafting, also described the previous day. The bars are passed between the faces of two discs continually revolving in the same direction in a vertical plane, and move along in different directions according as they are above or below the centre of the discs, the bed being raised and lowered by screws. In this way, the bars are not only straightened and smoothed, but are also so compressed as to gain 20 per cent. in torsional strength. Another machine was shown for polishing these bars when cold, by causing them to revolve, and at the same time travel across the face of a solid emery wheel. In this way the work of the lathe is executed in a most expeditious and economical manner. The tyre mill, by Tannett and Walker, differs from those inspected the previous day in having the finishing rolls immediately above the roughing. In passing through the works, the visitors were shown a number of railway axles and wheels for the Indian State Railways in course of construction. The Joe Pickles Mechanical Rabble, worked in preference to the old reverberatory furnace at Kirkstall Forge, was also seen. The proprietors stated that they found the Pickles furnace an efficient compromise between the ordinary puddling furnace and the rotary furnace of Banks or Crampton. The inventor, Mr. Joe Pickles, is one of the foremen at the forge, and he was present to explain the mode of working."

In the 20th century the forge specialised in motor vehicle axles and in steel bar. In 1974, Kirkstall Forge Engineering was bought by GKN and in 1995 the business was taken over by Dana Spicer Europe Ltd, who progressively transferred production overseas, and closed the works in 2001.

Further Reading and References:-
A Brief Guide to the Industrial Heritage of West Yorkshire W J Thompson Ed AIA 1989
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1876_Iron_and_Steel_Institute:_Visits_to_Works

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- forge

Viewing the Site :- From A65 (part) and internal roads

Address :- Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS5 3NE
Grid Ref :- SE 25024 36511
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.824272 , Long -1.621335
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1256648,
Site Condition :- Site derelict - some buildings remaining
Site Dates :- 1779 -
Record Date :- 5 May 2015

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson